LYNNFIELD — Another Lynnfield High student-athlete has committed to playing sports in college.
Rising senior Jared Bernabei, a captain of the Pioneers’ football team, will be playing Division 1 football at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. He made the announcement Tuesday on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“It feels great going into the season totally stress-free,” he said. “It feels like a giant weight has been taken off my back, so now I can focus on the football season. I’m excited to get started and am really excited about being able to go into the season with no distractions.”
Bernabei was heavily recruited with offers from Ithaca, St. Anselm, Williams and Trinity.
Bernabei made two visits to Marist. While he loved the feel of the campus, what ultimately sold him on Marist, which was 4-7 in 2023 competing in the Pioneer Football League, was its commitment to bringing a new culture to its football program and a brand new business school, which is set to open in 2025 when Bernabei will be a freshman.
“The other schools, especially the NESCAC schools (Williams and Trinity) said they would support my application and help me get admitted and onto the team, which was great because they are extremely selective,” Bernabei said. “But I felt more of a connection with the coaching staff at Marist. They have an entirely new staff, mostly from Ivy League schools, and are building something special there. The staff believes in the program and I believe in it. I believe the team will become a team to remember, so I am excited to be able to be a part of it.”
“Another huge factor for me was the fact that Marist is adding a $100 million business school,” he added. “I plan to major in business and minor in entrepreneurship, so I feel I’ll also benefit academically.”
A high honors student and member of the National Honor Society, Bernabei has a challenging course load this year with AP courses in economics and psychology. He is an active member of the Pioneers Football Leadership Council, a club now in its third year providing community services such as helping seniors with snow shoveling, raising money and donations for local food pantries, and organizations helping the homeless.
“It’s really about showing the community how we as football players can help people, and not so much just doing community service,” Bernabei said. “We want to give the team the chance to establish a good reputation while helping people who need it. It’s about leadership.”
On the field, Bernabei is a workhorse in all phases of the game as a running back, linebacker and punter on the special team’s unit. He led the team in yards rushing his junior year, picking up 425 yards on 41 carries for an eye-popping average of 10.4 yards per carry. He also caught three passes for 26 yards with one fumble recovery and 2.5 sacks. His best game was against Pentucket, racking up 124 yards on just nine carries to lead the Pioneers to a 38-7 win in late September and earn the team’s game ball.
A Cape Ann League honorable mention All-Star, Bernabei said the secret to his success as a runner is discipline, patience and trust.
“I’m a downhill runner and I don’t look to find openings outside,” he said. “I rely on the O-line to make their blocks, so all I have to do is just hit the hole and follow their blocks.”
Bernabei, who also runs outdoor track, said he expects to play linebacker at Marist. But for now, his attention is on the upcoming season, which began Thursday with the first of several days of preseason workouts at the high school.
Bernabei is one of five Pioneers’ captains who are hoping to defend the team’s 2023 Cape Ann League title and make a deep run in the Division 6 state tournament. He said he is confident the Pioneers have what it takes to succeed.
“We did lose some key players, but we are also gaining some good new players, so I think we will have a very successful season,” he said. “The captains and seniors have been together since our youth days – starting in the fifth grade – and I know we have the chemistry and leadership we need to get through any adversity that comes our way. Being a captain requires leadership and the ability to bring the team together when we are struggling. It’s not really about football; it’s about making everyone on the team feel included and important – that’s what makes for winning programs.”
